Donald Straus Lake, Missouri: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Look for Donald Straus Lake in the Saint Francois County part of Missouri. It sits in farm and woodlot. At roughly 12 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Head to Leadwood, 3.2 miles away, for anything you forgot. For a city, St. Louis is 60 miles off. The boundary is near enough that local access rules are worth double-checking.

• Where to Fish on Donald Straus Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Species logged across Saint Francois County include rainbow darter, greenside darter, fantail darter and orangethroat darter. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Donald Straus Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 77°F at the top of summer and 30°F at the bottom of winter. Neither winter nor summer shuts things down for long. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Donald Straus Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Failing this one, try Vineyards Lake, 2.6 miles away. For Donald Straus Lake in particular, ask before you travel.